Phone numbers: your line, texting registration and caller ID

Phone numbers

Phone numbers lists the numbers on your account, their status and what they can do, the plan allowance, texting registration, and caller-ID protection. Any number here can go with you if you ever leave.

Getting a number

Numbers are set up in the Number step of setup, three ways: Get a new local number (ready in seconds), Text-enable my current number (calls stay with your carrier, texting moves here, verified with a one-time code), or Move my number here (a full transfer, 5–15 days, your number keeps working throughout). If the platform has a shared number you can also continue with the FirstFiveMin shared number for now and add your own later.

What your number is (a lead line)

Not a phone system. The number you get from FirstFiveMin — or the shared FirstFiveMin number you start on — is a lead line, not a phone. Leads call and text it; the assistant answers, and it rings your own phone first when you want it to. You cannot dial out or type a text from it, and there is no inbox. Your phone, your carrier and your existing numbers stay exactly as they are — forward them here if you like, and take your FirstFiveMin number with you if you ever leave. The three ways to get one each keep that meaning: a new local number is a lead line from the first minute; text-enabling your current number moves only texting here and leaves calls with your carrier; moving your number is a full transfer, and it is still a lead line — you dial out from your own phone, as before.

What the shared number means

If you chose continue with the FirstFiveMin shared number, three things are true until you add your own number:

• Your calls and texts show the FirstFiveMin number and name, not yours.
• A lead who calls that number back reaches FirstFiveMin, not you. FirstFiveMin routes the call to the business the lead contacted when it can tell; if two businesses on the shared number both talked to that lead, the caller is asked which one they meant.
• Your own number changes all of that: add one any time and it takes over automatically.

You confirmed these three points with the I understand tick when you chose the shared number; the Numbers page and the setup notice repeat them while you are on it.

Texting registration

Carriers require every business that texts to register. The panel at the top of the page shows where yours stands:

• awaiting carrier approval: typically under a week; nothing is broken and texts start automatically once it clears. Calls work fully in the meantime.
• registration was rejected: almost always a fixable detail, most often the privacy policy or terms link, or the opt-in wording. The carrier's note and the failing items are listed; fix them and press Resubmit registration.
• needs your registration info: press Complete registration and fill the items listed.

Before you start, you need your business's legal name and EIN (a sole proprietor without one can still register, with carrier-imposed limits), a business address, a website you can edit (the carriers require a privacy line about texting on it; we hand you the exact sentence), and a mobile number the carriers can verify. If you don't have these yet, don't start: get them first and come back. Carrier review usually takes one to two weeks, sometimes longer, and you are not billed until the line can send.

You file it yourself through our system, and one attempt is included. If you would rather we handle it, the Numbers page offers a done-for-you option once it is on sale: a one-time fee, stated on the page before you pay, non-refundable because the work is performed. Inside that service we prepare and file the brand and campaign and resubmit at no extra charge until the carriers approve; the per-attempt charge never applies. The checklist above must be ticked before the fee can be paid, so a business that cannot qualify is turned away before paying, not refunded after.

Which number brought the lead

Give each of your numbers and forwarded lines a name for where you put it: Yard sign, Truck or van, Google Business Profile, or your own words. On the Numbers page, each line has What is this number on? — pick one and press Save. When you get a new number, you can answer What will this number be on? before you press Get a number.

Leads that call or text that number show From: Yard sign on your lead list and on the lead's page. A forwarded line you have not named uses the name you gave it when you forwarded it. Analytics → Where leads come from counts leads and booked leads for each line, this month and last month; leads from your forms and other tools are grouped as Forms and other.

One number per place is what makes the count honest: if the same number is on your sign and your truck, the report cannot tell them apart.

Make a sign

On Phone numbers, each of your FirstFiveMin numbers has Make a sign for this number. Pick a keyword people will text (one word, like HOME), where the sign goes (a yard sign rider, a truck or van decal, a door hanger, an invoice footer or a counter card) and the language, check the preview, then press Save keyword and download PDF.

The sign says "Text HOME to your number", carries the message-rates and STOP line, and has a code a phone's camera opens straight into a text with the keyword typed. Each text arrives as a lead on your list, marked as coming from a sign; the assistant never calls someone just because they texted a sign — you reply from your lead list. Forwarded lines take calls only, so a sign always uses a FirstFiveMin number.

Calling from the number closest to the lead

If you have FirstFiveMin numbers in more than one area code, turn on Call each lead from my number closest to their area code under Calling from your numbers. The assistant then calls a lead from your number with the same area code as the lead. It only uses numbers you own that answer as your business, and only numbers ready for calling; otherwise it calls from your main number. It is off until you turn it on.

Releasing and taking a number with you

• Release gives a number back to the carrier; it cannot be undone. A number still set as a calling number cannot be released; repoint it in Settings first (the row says so).
• Take it with you shows what your new carrier needs to move the number out: account number, transfer PIN and service address. Those details exist only in that dialog, never on the page.
• A number you brought yourself is marked "This number is yours — we will never release it."

Caller ID and deliverability

The Caller ID & deliverability card manages branded caller ID (CNAM, up to 15 characters, press Save caller ID name), spam-label protection and verified calling, each with a status pill. The Free Caller Registry is a free carrier form we cannot submit for you; the link is there, and Mark as submitted records that you did it. Text delivery (last 24h) shows delivered, blocked and failed texts.

Common problems

• Texts stopped after a rejection: fix the listed items and resubmit; calls are unaffected.
• Release is greyed out: the number is wired as a calling number. Change it in Settings, then release.
• Health check note on a number: the note names the issue (for example a code we cannot serve). Contact support with the note text.